001of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] >> Um, good evening everyone. Thank you for anyone who showed up this evening. Um, and welcome to our 12 days of summer August 4th board of ed meeting. Um, like to begin with the approval of the minutes from our July 10th reorg meeting and our July 10th re uh general meeting as well as our July 18th special meeting. Do I have a motion? What I >> which one? >> August 2nd on I apologize. Thank you, Miss Stoko. And our special meeting from August 2nd, uh, which was executive session, so there really should be any minutes. >> Okay. >> Um, do I have a motion to approve the minutes? Thank
002you, Miss Dr. Balachu. Do I have a second, Mr. Jin? Thank you very much. All in favor of approving the minutes? Uh, if anyone wants to discuss, they can discuss. Okay. After four years, I don't think I've ever heard discussions in the past. I know we have. Mrs. Hit. We have. Anyway, all in favor 40. Perfect. Moving on. Um, superintendence report. What exciting developments can you tell us for your first 35 days, sir? Oh, thank you. Oh, and by the way, we want to introduce you people in the audience all know us. This is Miss Christine. Cynthia Cynthia Tienne. Cynthia Tienne. I apologize. Miss Tien. I never use first names. Miss Cynthia Tienne, who is our new student representative. She is a going to be a senior starting in 21 day, 23 days. Thank you
003very much for joining us tonight. Miss Tien, I turn it to you, Mr. Superintendent. >> Good evening and thank you all for being here tonight and those of you who are watching on YouTube. I'd like to take a few minutes to address two important topics that have come to the forefront since I arrived. First, I want to acknowledge the concerns some parents have raised regarding the upcoming regent exams in physics and chemistry. At this time, there are two options available. Students may may either take the new version of the regent exam or the older version of the regent exam. You've likely heard the terms like curriculum, resources, standards, and assessments frequently used in these discussions. Tonight, Dr. Sherman and I will take a moment to clarify what each of these terms means in context. Um,
004so for example, curriculum. Curriculum is is the uh incorporating the standards. standards are coming from the state of of New York. They are what you're supposed to be teaching. The curriculum is how we teach it. The resources are what we use to teach that. And the assessments, while there may be some of our own assessments from within Jericho, there are assessments like the regent exams that come from the state. Um, many times people are just mixing those things. So, I wanted to clarify because the last uh board meeting, there were some concerns about us not affording the teachers resources. We do our best to make sure every teacher has everything they need to teach. It is in the best interest of what we're here for as students to make sure they have everything. But we
005do follow our curriculum, which is what we're teaching, provided that they follow the standards. And when we talk about next generation science standards, we have adopted those in 2017 like many other states around the country. Dr. Sherman, do you want to add some more about that? >> Uh, sure. >> Thank you. I know there were some questions about resources and what students were using and teachers were using to prepare for the uh earth science and bio regions. And I have to say that everything that was possibly available nationally we had. So we used a repository called inner orbit which is a digital platform um which provides extensive data uh for teachers and students and allows students to practice clustered and standardsbased questions that align to the NGSS curriculum the nextG curriculum. Um we used uh
006in this list which is the New York State Science Association a line cluster question bot uh which was created by a teacher in Delmore which was used to design cluster questions. Clusters these regions the two regions this year is the new ones that we gave were based on clusters of information clusters of standards. Um so we use those cluster questions to help students practice. We used for the earth and space science resources. We uh purchased reference table books. They were purchased for all students. Earth and space science reference table review book. Uh the New York State Earth and SC space student book which was purchased in March of 2025. Um this was a new book that was NGSS aligned. Teachers used this to prepare materials for our students. This book will be purchased for every
007student for the 2526 school year. It was also a resource called Biozone which is an earth and space science workbook. Um we used something called go with the flow earth and space science sample performance tasks. We used a text called the wonder of science. For the bio resources we used uh a new book called uh life science biology in New York State Regents Review. Uh it first came out in June of 2025. So next year every student will have a copy. We used uh biozone, life science, biology, NGSS workbook and we used uh regions prep in a Google drive that is shared amongst uh science specialists across New York state which is based on the new visions uh curriculum which addresses the NGSS biology standards and we also picked up something called the wonder of
008science. So every every resource that was available we had and we've continued to monitor that and purchase uh books that were just distributed in the spring and in June the next year. We also have obtained examples from other states that have converted to NGSS um such as Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Colorado, California. Um next ter practice science CBTs. Pearson New Jersey practice science CBTs. DC practice science CBTs based out of Louisiana. Um and this was all available to our teachers. the clusters, the topics were available last uh fall, fall of 2024 for these new exams. The uh new clusters for the chemistry and physics uh new nextgen regions were released in the spring. Our teachers have already unpacked that. So, we are we're still moving. Um we're not going to stop. We are
009still going forward and um when some strong decisions are made, we will share that. And uh I just wanted everyone to know we were well prepared. So our kids actually did well comparatively across the state. So and we're proud of them. >> Thank you Dr. Sherman for all your hard work and thank you for all the teachers who have done a lot of work to prepare the students. As far as the question that remains of whether or not we will be issuing the assessment or the new assessment moving forward for chemistry and physics. We'll be making that decision within the next two weeks and sharing with everyone. Uh the second topic that came up today concerning concerns the early access to student schedules. It appears there are two programs, possibly three, currently linked to our
010student information system, which may have caused a premature access with students. We're in the process of identifying and temporarily disabling those links so that we can distribute accurate and complete schedule information. Some of the information that students may have seen may not be accurate. We expect this to be resolved within the next 24 hours and we'll plan accordingly with the release of the student schedules later in the month of August. I want to assure you that we we take all concerns seriously and we are working diligently to maintain the integrity of our systems. We are also establishing clear and consistent operating procedures to ensure transparency in everything we do. Thank you for your time and effort and for your continued support. Thank you to the staff who I have been working with for the last
011month and three days and to the board of education. I look forward to seeing everyone on the first day of school. It's going to be an absolutely fantastic year. So, thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Superintendent. Uh before we move into the opportunity for publicly heard, do you want to make a few public service announcements for our students and parents? For those high school students enrolled in AP courses and the parents of high school students enrolled in AP courses, please remember you can find the assignments for these classes on or the summer assignments for these classes on our website. go to the Jericho High School website, not the general district website. The general Jericho High School website and you have to click on the curriculum tab or you will see a drop-down that says
012quote 2025 summer assignments. Close quote. Please don't start the year behind. Don't start the year off behind. Isn't that right, Miss Ten? There she goes. Um, second, you will have received some emails from Mr. Emanuel regarding the new New York State program on free lunch. uh please go over that, understand what your child is entitled to both for breakfast and lunch so that again your child will show up wellfed and not overfed. And finally, as you know, the district has in alignment with New York State policy adopted a new cell phone policy for the entire district. Please review it. Please review it with your children so they understand what is allowed, what is not allowed, so that when they come in on August 27th, there are not any problems and you do not have to
013somehow show up and collect your child's phone. Thank you very much. Um, now we will move into the opportunity for the public to be heard. If you would like to make a comment or ask a question, please approach the microphone, tell us your name, and if you are representing a specific group, your affiliation. If you would like your statement to be included in our board minutes, you must hand a written copy of your remarks to our district clerk, Victor Emanuel, before leaving tonight. With that, I open the floor to anyone who wants to make a public comment. Seeing no one in our mass crowd has any comment to be made, I turn it over to Mr. Emanuel to see if there have been any emails sent into the board with questions or comments to be
014read. >> No. wonderfully. Our huge audience at home has nothing to comment on or ask about. Uh so with that, I will now close the opportunity for the public to be heard and we will move on to the business of the district. Uh as we have no unfinished business, we will move right into new business. Recommended motion. Be it resolved that the board of education of the Jericho Union Free School District in accordance with board policy number 7132 hereby permits the students set forth in confidential schedule A known to the board in executive session to attend the schools of the district in accordance with this policy for the 2025 2026 school year subject to the parent or person in parental relation providing transportation. Do I have a motion? Mrs. Citron, thank you very much. Do
015I have a second? Dr. Balachando. Thank you. Any discussion? With no discussion being said, all in favor? 40. Thank you very much. Moving on. Approval of building level school emergency plans. You recall last month we approved the school district emergency plan. These are individual building plans. Recommended motion. Be it resolved that the board of education accepts the building level school emergency respon response plans as submitted. Do I have a motion? Thank you, Mrs. Citron. Second. Thank you, Dr. Balachander. Any discussion? With no discussion, we'll go. All in favor of adopting. Thank you very much. 40. We will now move on to the amounts to be raised in property school tax purposes. Recommended motion. Whereas, as the voters of the Jericho Union Free School District have adopted the 2025 2026 budget of 143,870, $118. Be it
016resolved that the amount to be raised in property taxes will be 118,854,935. Be it further resolved that all board members sign the attached town of Oyster Bay at North Hemstead tax warrant on behalf of the Jericho Union Free School District. Do I have a motion? Thank you, Mrs. Citron. Second. Thank you, Dr. Balachander. Any discussion? Just to be clear, and please Mr. Emanuel, correct me if I'm wrong. This is not new information. This budget was approved by voters in May. This is the formal procedure by which the board approves and signs the tax document. In some prior years, we've been able to reduce this from the time of the budget being approved, but this year we are going with what was approved. 100% correct. Uh no changes in what was presented uh during the budget.
017Um and I just want to remind the four board members to please stay after and make sure the documents are signed before you leave. And and we will do that because Mr. Emanuel as always has done an outstanding job in putting together this document and keeping our schools fiscally and educationally strong. With that being said, all in favor of approving. Thank you very much. 40. We are moving on. Um authorization for the board president to execute employment agreements. Recommended motion. Be it resolved that the board of education authorizes the board president to execute employment agreements by and between the Jericho Union Free School District and the following individual. Mike Larkin, director of technology and a motion. Mr. Citron second. Dr. Balachander. Any discussion? As everyone knows, um our prior director of technology resigned and we
018need to replace him and we will. Um, all in favor of hiring Mr. Lin. One, two, three. All opposed. All abstaining. One 301. Miss Stokel. Perfect. Um, >> absolutely. >> Um, I would like to take the prerogative and walk on a resolution that uh follows on to our meeting from last month. Be it resolved that the board of education resins the resolution approved at the July 10th, 2025 meeting relating to the initiation of litigation against a former employee known to the board. Do I have a motion? Dr. Balachandra. Thank you. Second. Yes. Second from uh Mrs. Citron upon that clarification. All in favor 40. Thank you very much. We will now move on to schedules. Miss Stokel is following along very closely with us today. Um so as Mrs. Citron said, we would like to
019break out schedule I believe it's schedule G. Perfect. We're going to break out schedule G and we are going to delete schedule P117 late transportation request. Schedule G is is new hires. Um, so with those two schedules pulled out, do I have a motion to approve E29 schedule E2952 through human resources board schedule K excluding human resources schedule G and excluding P117 transportation >> schedule G. What do I >> There's a few. >> Ah, >> I think that first. >> You want to do that first? We'll do that first. Okay, let's go. We're going to go schedule G first. Do I have a motion to approve schedule G? Do you want to do each person on there or do you want to do just just Mr. >> Administrator? Perfect. >> Got it. So, we are
020going to start off with schedule G probationary administrative appointment. Whereas the following named administrator is recommended for appointment to a probationary term by the superintendent of schools in accordance with the education law section 3012 subdivision 1B. Now therefore it be resolved the board of education authorizes the board president to execute an employment agreement with the following individual for the following position. Demetrios Jim Mandonus. I apologize if I got any of those syllables wrong. as the new assistant principal in the high school. Before we go, actually, do I have a motion? Second, Mr. Jin. Thank you. Um, for discussion for some of you will recognize the name Jim Mandonis. Mr. Mandonis was a teacher here in the Jericho School District for 12 years. He left to serve as administrator in two districts. And now we are
021very excited as a board to welcome hopefully four of us will be excited to welcome him back to the district. So [Applause] short all in favor 40. Now welcome back Mr. [Applause] >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. Welcome. >> With that said, all the other schedules, which I believe still are E2952 through human resources board schedule K, as we said, not including schedule D probationary administrative appointment and not P117. Do I have a motion? Mr. Citron, thank you. Do I have a second? >> Dr. Balachander, thank you. Discussion. We have others. >> Sure. I'll start with the uh change order. Uh there's a deduct and there is an ad change order that is for the window work taking place at Kantiak Elementary School. Uh there were unforeseen conditions when they uh took out the
022old windows and additional steel uh was required to be installed in several areas uh throughout the uh second floor replacement of the windows. Uh so that's what that change order is for. Uh there was another question to compare the 2526 initial Boseies contract to the 2425 final uh Boseies contract and why there was uh why there is close to a million dollar uh difference. Um the biggest aspect is with every initial contract for the year, it never includes the budgeted uh hardware for Chromebooks. um uh iPads, desktops, etc. Uh because they are only added in when you're actually placing the order for it because it's not really a service. You're purchasing equipment through those and we normally do that in the spring. So, we're kind of a year ahead with our hardware purchases. This way,
023we have it in place for the summer. Um this way it's in place for the beginning of school. Another big piece this past year, which is not something that um will necessarily repeat um is uh that we were taking uh advantage of our -ate funding. Um the -ate funding we used to replace and upgrade all of our wireless access points um throughout the district uh I think to the tune of close to 300 of them. Um, so that's an ongoing project this summer, but it was initiated during the 24-25 school year and um the payment is part of the 2425. That's something likely not to be again repeated. The only thing that would be repeated is the money we budgeted for um annual hardware, which is somewhere in the5 to $600,000 range. >> Well, thank
024you very much. There is one thing I just wanted to quickly mention again taking a prerogative on schedule H um instructional resignations. I just wanted to highlight two departing employees that we did not have an opportunity to recognize at our year- end meeting. Um the first one is varsity soccer coach Donnie Braa under whose leadership our program achieved great success winning multiple conference, county and state championships. I think Mrs. Citro was a very big fan of Mr. Raand who I believe her son served as captain. So um he will be missed uh and also going on to great things. And also um Kim Libertini, our our curriculum associate of science who led our science department for the past three years and improved an already strong academic area in our district. Um with no other comments,
025do I have uh can I please have a vote on approving all those schedules? All in favor? Three, four. All opposed. Thank you very much. Um, so now with only 14 days until football players report, 21 days until teachers report, and 23 days until students report, we wish everyone a happy finale to your summer break. As all business on the agenda for tonight's meeting is complete, do I have a motion to adjourn? Motion. Thank you. Second, Mr. Jyn. All in favor? >> Good night.